Zelda and Hazel. I kept thinking about Chloe and how she’d fallen apart after Visiting Day. She was a happy camper until her parents refused to show up together. I’d never want to cause my children that level of misery.
Teddy. Yes, I loved him, but we’d made one rule together—when the summer was over, we were over. Would that change if I decided to walk away from my marriage?
Surprisingly, I wasn’t crying, even though all the truths I had brought with me to camp were tumbling down, out of control. The inevitable earthquake would split the foundations of our children’s lives, with me on one side and their dad on the other.
If Ronnie bothered to call me back, I wouldn’t take the call.
As I had done for the past one hundred and sixty meals, I looked at the four tables of Cubs, counting off each camper. I remembered how nervous I’d been about meeting and taking care of these forty-eight girls. Now, as I watched them finishing the conversations that began on that very first day and were still going strong, I smiled.
“Leah, you must be happy. Don’t you get your puppy today?” I asked.
“So excited.”
“Tell me, were you really homesick, or did you just play your parents?”
Leah turned beet red and giggled. I laughed and gave her a hug.
Sarah was animatedly chatting with Jada. They had started hanging out the night of the dance when Sarah finally broke out of her shell.
I placed my hands on their backs and asked, “Will you get together during the winter months?”
Sarah put her arm around Jada. “Definitely.”
Kacie stood up and gave me a hug. “Lori, I’m going to miss you. If I write to you, will you write me back?”
“Of course.”
“Jamie, I know you weren’t a fan of rollerblading, but what was your favorite part of camp?” I asked.
“Learning how to use a potter’s wheel.”
“Do you think you’ll be back next summer?”
“I’d rather go to an arts camp. I don’t really like sports, especially skating.” She gave me a small sad smile.
“I’d miss you, but I’d understand.”
I made sure to touch each child on her back whispering something personal into her ear.
43Inspection
Abby and I were in our rooms, chatting across the hall as we packed up the last remnants of our summer. I’d accumulated a lot ofstuff—taped to the mirror was a watercolor landscape of the camp that Jamie made for me. On top of the dresser were neon-pink feather earrings from Hazel and a lopsided piece of pottery that was supposed to be a mug from Zelda. A tall glass vase held the sunflowers from Teddy.
I thought back to what a nervous wreck I’d been when I met Abby, unsure of my responsibilities. Leaning on and commiserating with her and Maggie had made everything tolerable.
“I can’t believe we survived the entire summer,” Abby said.
“And that we’re still standing and . . .”
“Sane?” Abby finished my thought as she had since our first day.
“I know that some would question our sanity, but yeah, sane works.”
“What do you think’s going to happen with the camp next year? Are you coming back?” Abby asked. “I’m not sure if I will.”
I walked into her room. “It all happened quickly, and I’ve been dying to tell you, but I didn’t want to burden you with it.”
She stopped folding T-shirts. “What’s going on?”
